Scholarships for Aging Services Careers in Minnesota

One of the most persistent myths about aging services careers is that they don’t pay well and aren’t worth the investment of training or education. The reality is more complicated — and more encouraging — than that.

There is significant financial support available for Minnesotans who want to enter or advance in aging services careers. Scholarships, employer-funded tuition support, and state-backed training programs exist specifically for this field. Most people exploring the field simply don’t know where to look (the resources page is a great place to start!)

What kinds of support are available

Financial support for aging services careers in Minnesota falls into a few categories:

Employer-funded tuition support — Many aging services employers offer direct tuition assistance for employees pursuing certifications, nursing degrees, or other credentials. This is especially common for nursing assistants, aka CNAs, pursuing LPN licensure or LPNs pursuing RN degrees, but it extends further than most people expect — boiler’s licenses, medication aide certifications, social work degrees, HR, IT, and even graduate-level credentials like master’s degrees are covered by some employers. If you’re already working in a community and want to advance, ask your employer directly. Some of these programs aren’t widely advertised.
State and nonprofit scholarships — Minnesota has a range of scholarship programs specifically for healthcare workers and aging services professionals. The Caring Careers Starts Here resource library includes more than a dozen curated links to scholarships, training programs, and financial resources — all vetted and organized for easy navigation.
Subsidized training programs — Programs like OnTrack offer online, on-demand nursing assistant training that reduces or eliminates upfront costs, which employers frequently cover. Minnesota’s nursing education program listings also include part-time and remote options designed to work around existing schedules.

Who this support is available to

Financial support for aging services careers is available to a broad range of people — not just those already in the field. Programs exist for:

First-time job seekers pursuing CNA or home health aide certification
Workers in other fields looking to transition into aging services
Current aging services employees pursuing advancement
Students in CTE programs exploring health careers

You don’t need to be enrolled in a formal degree program to access many of these resources.

Why this matters for the pay conversation

The concern that aging services careers don’t pay well is most commonly raised about entry-level direct care roles — and it’s worth taking seriously. Entry-level wages vary by employer and are not uniform.

What changes the picture significantly is the advancement pathway. A person who enters as a dietary aide with tuition support, earns a CNA credential, and advances to an LPN role over three to five years has traveled a real career arc — with employer support at each step. That trajectory is available in aging services in a way that’s less common in other fields.

Where to start

The Caring Careers Starts Here resource library is the most complete collection of scholarship and training resources available for Minnesota aging services workers. Explore career roles to find current Minnesota wage ranges for nearly 50 roles — from entry-level positions to advanced careers. Visit the Find Your Career page for programs that match your situation, and use the Employer Match tool to connect with organizations near you that offer their own tuition support.

Your next step doesn’t have to cost as much as you think.